Thanks to the small sensor, and correspondingly small mirror, deeply recessed into the body, the vast majority of adapted lenses work on EF-S mount bodies like the 400D. Most of those continue to work well on the 1Ds Mark I and II. However, the Canon 5D has a slightly taller mirror that requires correspondingly more clearance at the rear of the lens. For whatever reason (mirror size variation, adaptor thickness variation, undocumented alterations to the design of the rear of the lens between production runs), some 5D users report being able to mount and use some lenses that give trouble to others. The tolerances are very tight back there, and if the 5D detects any impedance to the movement of its mirror it will Err99 and lock up.

In rear-focusing lenses (like the Pentax 50mm f1.4 Super Takumar) the problem may only occur at infinity focus. A common workaround is simply to set the lens at, say, 10m, pre-fire the mirror, nudge to the focus to infinity, then release the shutter. A more permanent solution – indeed the only way to use the peerless Leica wide angles – is to modify the 5D's mirror. Here 'modify' is understood to mean 'hack a chunk out of'. Watch this space for reports from 5D owners who had performed the mod without regret.

Here, then is the most recently updated compatibility list for the 5D. Particularly because of the number of unpredictable variables arising from using adapted lenses on the 5D we cannot be held responsible for damage incurred to bodies or lenses as a result of referring to this list, which is provided for information only. Naturally modifying any body or lens will invalidate the warranty.

PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

LENS MOUNT

LENS MODEL

COMPATIBLE

NOTES & CAVEATS

CONTAX /
YASHICA

15mm Distagon f3.5 AE

YES

-

15mm Distagon f3.5 MM

YES

-

16mm Distagon Fisheye

YES

-

18mm Distagon f4 AE

YES

-

18mm Distagon f4 MM

NO

Most 5D users find that the rear element protrudes beyond the lens mount and fouls the mirror. Mirror surgery required.

21mm Distagon f2.8

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

LEICA R

YES

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

OLYMPUS OM (ZUIKO)

YES

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

PENTAX M42 SCREW FIT

YES

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

ROLLEI QBM

YES

YES

-

YES

-

YES

-

LENS BRAND

LENS MODEL

COMPATIBILTY

Notes, caveats and modifications

Contax/Zeiss Primes

15mm f3.5 AE/MM

Needs mod.

Rear element housing requires adjustment

16mm f2.8 Fisheye

OK

18mm f4 AE

OK

18mm f4 MM

Doubtful

The rear element protrudes above the housing on most MM lenses by just enough to graze the 5D mirror. Mirror surgery is the only possible mod.

21mm f2.8 MM

OK

25mm f2.8 AE/MM

OK

28mm f2 MM

Needs mod.

May have difficulty clearing mirror

28mm f2.8 AE/MM

OK

35mm f2.8 AE/MM

OK

35mm f3.5 PC

OK

45mm f2.8 Pancake AE

OK

50mm f1.4 AE/MM

OK

50mm f1.7 AE/MM

Needs mod.

Aperture fin requires trimming by approximately 2mm

60mm Makro AE (1:1)

OK

60mm Makro MM (1:2)

OK

85mm f1.2 Anniversary

OK

85mm f1.4 AE/MM

OK

85mm f2.8 AE/MM

OK

100mm f2 AE/MM

OK

100mm f3.5 AE/MM

OK

135mm f2.8 AE/MM

OK

300mm f4 AE/MM

OK

28-85mm AE/MM

OK

35-70mm AE/MM

OK

35-135mm AE/MM

OK

100-300mm AE/MM

OK

OLYMPUS Zuiko

18mm f2.8

OK

21mm f2

OK

21mm f3.5

OK

24mm f2

OK

24mm f2.8

OK

24mm f3.5 PC/Shift

OK

28mm f2

OK

35mm f2.8

OK

35mm f3.5 Pc/Shift

OK

40mm f2 Pancake

Unknown

50mm f1.2

OK

50mm f1.8

OK

55mm f1.2

OK

90mm f2

OK

35-70mm f3.3

OK

Leica Primes

15mm f3.5 Elmarit

Needs mod.

None of the wide Leica lenses fit the 5D without modification. The 19mm requires the least surgery: removing 1.5mm from the rear element housing does the trick (see here for instructions and pictures). Some have found it worthwhile to permanently modify their 5D mirrors to use what is probably the finest range of ultrawides available. For details of the 2mm mirror shave mod (sometimes known as the Mancuso Manoeuvre) please see here . . . .

15mm f2.8 Super-Elmarit

Needs mod.

19mm f2.8

Needs mod.

24mm f2.8

Needs mod.

28mm f2.8

Needs mod.

28mm f2.8 PC

OK

The same lens is available from Schneider with a dedicated Canon EF mount. If the lens is branded Schneider, the rear mount is removable.

This list is possible thanks to Emanuelle C, Cinstance, PSquared, Jack Flesher, John Black, MarkSaperstein, Foto-z and other FMers that are trying off-brand lenses with the 5D. Thanks also to: Guy Mancuso for his efforts w/ Leica glass and kidigital for 5D mirror mod.